Major League Soccer’s title will be decided when the Los Angeles Galaxy host the New York Red Bulls in the MLS Cup final on Saturday.
The Galaxy hopes to hoist its sixth MLS Cup – 10 years after their last championship in 2014. They lead all MLS franchises with five MLS Cup titles.
Meanwhile, the Red Bulls are still in search for their first MLS Cup title. This is their second appearance in the final, falling to the Columbus Crew in 2008.
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Here are some details about the MLS Cup final, and five things to know before the big game:
When is the 2024 MLS Cup final?
The L.A. Galaxy and New York Red Bulls will play in the MLS Cup final on Saturday at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) inside Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.
Where to watch MLS Cup final: LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls
The game will be available to live stream for free via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
The game will be also available on TV on FOX and FOX Deportes in the U.S., and on TSN and RDS in Canada.
Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Taylor Twellman (analyst) and Jillian Sakovits (sideline reporter) will be the commentary team for the English-language broadcast. Sammy Sadovnik (play-by-play), Diego Valeri (analyst) and Antonella Gonzalez (sideline reporter) will be the commentary team for the Spanish-language broadcast.
Wach MLS Cup final on Apple TV
LA Galaxy vs. New York Red Bulls betting odds
According to BetMGM, here are the odds after regulation: LA Galaxy (-125), New York Red Bulls (+300), tie (+275). The over/under is set at 2.5 goals.
1. LA Galaxy must overcome loss of Riqui Puig
At least one former FC Barcelona star reached the MLS Cup final. But he won’t be able to play in it. Galaxy standout Riqui Puig suffered a torn ACL during the Western Conference final – before he delivered the game-winning assist to Dejan Jovelić last week.
Puig had 13 goals and 15 assists this season for the Galaxy, along with four goals and three assists this postseason. His playmaking in the middle of the pitch will be missed by the Galaxy.
2. LA Galaxy should still be fine without Puig
As much as Puig has been a catalyst for the Galaxy’s run to MLS Cup, the club features some of the league’s best players.
The MLS Newcomer of the Year Gabriel Pec is a Brazilian standout with 19 goals and 16 assists during the regular season and playoffs. Jovelić is a Serbian standout who leads the Galaxy with five goals in the postseason, and has scored 20 in all competitions. Joseph Paintsil, from Ghana, has three goals during the postseason and posted 10 goals with 10 assists during the regular season.
3. Red Bulls began postseason taking down defending champs
If the Red Bulls’ run to the MLS Cup final feels improbable, it’s because it was. They are the lowest playoff seed to reach the final in league history, starting as the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Red Bulls began the playoffs by eliminating defending champions Columbus Crew in two games during their first-round series. They also didn’t have to face either of the last two Supporters’ Shield winners in FC Cincinnati (2023) and Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami (2024), beating New York City FC in the semifinals and Orlando City in the conference finals.
4. Home-field advantage could favor Galaxy over visiting Red Bulls
Could location play a role in the MLS Cup final? It might.
The Galaxy is unbeaten in 20 matches (16 wins, zero losses, four draws) at Dignity Health Sports Park this season.
New York won just four of 17 road games (with six losses and seven draws) during the regular season. However, the Red Bulls have won three of four games this postseason on the road.
5. MLS Cup final could be a test of wills
The Galaxy have scored 16 goals in four postseason games, needing just one goal to tie to MLS record for goals by a club in the playoffs.
New York, on the other hand, allowed just two goals to Columbus Crew in Game 2 of their first-round series. They’ve held their opponents scoreless in their other three playoff games.
Red Bulls goalkeeper Carlos Coronel has been instrumental, accounting for 19 saves and the club’s three clean sheets this postseason.
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